I was going to start this missive with the tale of a friend who recently bought $15,000 in 2010 Bordeaux futures for his son, but frankly, I’m just looking for something fantastic and sub-$30 for a special Saturday night.

Good news is I found it.

Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet 2007 is the second wine of Chateau Pontet-Canet, located right next door to Chateau Mouton-Rothschild in Bordeaux’s Pauillac commune, where Cabernet Sauvignon grows in the massive gravel deposit that is the Left bank of the Gironde. Les Hauts is the “little brother” to the Grand Vin like Eli Manning is to Peyton — a little smaller, maybe a little less flash, but nothing says sibling rivalry like ‘little brother’ with a couple of Superbowl rings.

Dignified and seriously dark red, with black cherry and licorice at the start, tempered by a healthy dose of good French oak and showing a dark sweet fruit compote with cedar, toast, soy and bittersweet chocolate on the mid-palate and finish. Tightly wound at first, but opens and rounds out beautifully with time in the glass. This is gorgeous, Old-World-meets-New Cabernet Sauvignon, full-bodied with the alcohol nicely in check. Youthful but polished acids and fine, long tannins will provide versatility at table now and for years to come.

We didn’t see any professional ratings as of yet, but the 2007 Grand Vin was 91- 94 points from Parker and one of the “Wines of the Vintage”, and while this is not the Grand Vin, I think you’ll agree its cut from the same cloth, has the added benefit of drinkable now and it won’t break the bank – which is, in my estimation, the perfect purpose for Bordeaux estates’ “second labels”.

This is a quality over quantity recommendation. Buy one and try it — there’s a good supply at our distributor’s warehouse so should be available through the Summer.